Vanderbilt reportedly offering AJ Hoggard “massive” NIL deal

According to a report from a Vanderbilt insider, the Commodores are offering former Spartan AJ Hoggard a massive NIL deal.

AJ Hoggard has been in the portal for a couple of weeks now and he’s already narrowed his list of potential suitors down to five.

Florida, Georgia, Vanderbilt, USC, and Washington are all trying to land the former Michigan State point guard who finished his Spartan career with over 1,000 points and over 600 assists. He finished by averaging 8.6 points and 4.6 points over his four years with Michigan State but Tom Izzo agreed that it was time for him to move on following the 2023-24 season.

There’s a chance we could see Hoggard back in the Big Ten but he could also be playing in the SEC. Smart money would be on him joining the SEC, especially after word got out that Vanderbilt is offering him a “massive” NIL deal.

For @247Sports subscribers, I'm told Vanderbilt has offered a massive NIL package to Michigan State 4-star transfer guard AJ Hoggard as the Commodores continue to pursue. The number here:https://t.co/lwLY3EQFnJ pic.twitter.com/5EnMKp4MLO

— Robbie Weinstein (@rwweinstein) May 10, 2024

This is an interesting move by Vanderbilt, but it makes sense considering the program is looking to turn things around in a hurry. Adding a veteran point guard like Hoggard would do wonders for a new coach like Mark Byington who got to see him play in person to start the 2023-24 season. He was the head coach of James Madison.

You have to be a subscriber to see the dollar amount on Hoggard’s rumored NIL deal, but let’s just say that he’d be making more than most college athletes. It’s hard to believe that a program like Vanderbilt has the money for that.

Hoggard has some good options on the table but if he wants to join a program that’s trying to rebuild while getting paid a huge chunk of money to lead the team, Vanderbilt might be the place to be.

It’s good to see Hoggard is going to land on his feet somewhere.